as in rebels
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government
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Recent Examples of agitators
Garvey is just one of hundreds of anti-government operatives training agitators to interfere with federal law enforcement.
—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Has not the potential of violence been lit up when local law enforcement is nowhere to be found when protesters and agitators descend upon the hotels where ICE is staying?
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Republicans have blamed many of those confrontations on Democratic activists and agitators.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
One of the book’s most intriguing characters is Roth, a judge who used racial slurs in private and initially viewed NAACP lawyers as outside agitators.
—John Blake, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Multiple agitators were arrested during the operation.
—Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
Many are not students, they are paid agitators.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Has not the potential of violence been lit up when local law enforcement is nowhere to be found when protesters and agitators descend upon the hotels where ICE is staying?
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Republicans have blamed many of those confrontations on Democratic activists and agitators.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
One of the book’s most intriguing characters is Roth, a judge who used racial slurs in private and initially viewed NAACP lawyers as outside agitators.
—John Blake, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Multiple agitators were arrested during the operation.
—Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
Many are not students, they are paid agitators.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitators
Noun
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Aleppo had fallen to the rebels by the time Assad landed back in Damascus.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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According to a United Nations report, since seizing Rubaya, the rebels have imposed taxes on the trade and transport of coltan, generating at least $800,000 a month.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Those funds often backed far-right Republican insurgents.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Amid the nods to social media and cancel culture and the shallow perils of modern celebrity, the image of Taylor-Joy’s disciplined group of insurgents, who speak in almost archaic, poetic dialogue, strikes a bracing contrast.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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If dialogue or compromise were to take place, his sacred image would collapse in the eyes of his supporters.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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On the other hand, the court upheld limits on what supporters can contribute directly.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There were right-wing provocateurs coming to town.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Third parties, which are usually based on fringe views or a sense of grievance, are vehicles for ideologues, provocateurs and contrarians whose appeal is as limited as their problem-solving skills.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Ticket-holders of Ball Arena concerts, typically sold through Ticketmaster, will receive an email with refund or exchange details, according to promoters.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
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The early promoters of the organic-farming movement prioritized soil quality and the sustainability of agricultural practices.—
Annie Levin,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some religious leaders oppose practice While proponents point to environmental benefits, human composting is not universally accepted.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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At the time, proponents of the bill mentioned that it could also be used to crack down on Spring Breakers.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum.—
Annelise Riles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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In turn, the erosion of trust has weakened the social contract that sustains representative government, leaving democracies more vulnerable to populist demagogues, institutional paralysis, and the gradual normalization of authoritarian alternatives.—
NIC CHEESEMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The instigators were allowed to go beyond peaceful protests to hindering law enforcement from doing their job which escalated with the result of two people tragically losing their lives.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Federal officials and the president himself were swift to label those killed as instigators.—
Dominik Dausch,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitators. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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